Oyster River softball team snaps 99-game losing skid

It took Glen Miller just two games to do what his predecessors over the last seven years couldn't do — lead the Oyster River High School softball team to a victory.

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By Jay Pinsonnault

seacoastonline.com

By Jay Pinsonnault

Posted Apr. 18, 2014 at 8:19 PM
Updated Apr 18, 2014 at 8:24 PM

By Jay Pinsonnault

Posted Apr. 18, 2014 at 8:19 PM
Updated Apr 18, 2014 at 8:24 PM

» Social News

It took Glen Miller just two games to do what his predecessors over the last seven years couldn't do — lead the Oyster River High School softball team to a victory.

The host Bobcats scored five runs in the third inning and snapped a 99-game losing streak with a 9-1 victory over Kennett on Friday in a Division II contest. Oyster River opened the season on Thursday with a 7-4 loss to Milford. Kennett beat Merrimack Valley, 7-1, in its season opener. It was the first Oyster River victory since the 2007 season.

“(Not getting) to 100 straight losses is huge,” said Miller, who was hired as the new coach in February. “This losing streak has been an anvil on everybody's back. To get this win and avoid losing 100 straight games is amazing. We can celebrate this win over the weekend and starting next week get back on with the season.”

Oyster River's Caitlyn Miller allowed just three hits and an unearned run over seven innings, while striking out 11 for the win.

Miller walked the first batter of the seventh inning, but settled down to get the final three outs.

“The ending was really surreal,” coach Miller said. “We don't draw big crowds, and I think word spread that we had a chance to win. By the time the seventh inning came, I think we had around 150 people there. The players felt a little extra pressure because everybody was there, lining the field, but we knew how big getting those last three outs were.

“I told the girls before the inning started to take it one pitch at a time,” he continued. “There was a lot of joy and excitement after the game; the girls were jumping up and down and hugging each other. The burden of carrying this streak has been overwhelming.”

Sara Messler's solo home run, her second homer in as many days, put Oyster River on the board in the second. Oyster River then scored five runs on four hits in the third. The key hit in the inning was Meaghan Campbell's two-run single that scored Messler and Lauren Sullivan.